Mandatory Concealed Weapons On Campus

Dear Mortimer I am writing this paper to persuade you to rethink your position concerning the preemption of firearms regulation regarding college campuses. All over the world violence occurs when we least expect it. As the human race evolves, so does the technology we use. We have acquired the ability to kill a man without being in his general vicinity. With just the slight movement of my finger I can end someone’s life. One small confrontation could lead to a terrible travesty. In the United States alone, we have seen many shootings in educational buildings from the students themselves. When you put guns in the hands of students, you are asking for death. People may say it adds protection to people wearing guns, but what about the people without them? I strongly believe that if this bill is allowed to continue we be seeing a large number of shooting in buildings of education, which is unacceptable. One small miscommunication between two armed students could start a firefight.

Due to the recent upheaval of violent crimes on campus, many pro-gun activist have suggested that both the students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Those for this may claim that their rights have been violated because many college campuses refuse to allow weapons of any kind on campus. It is not the right to carry a gun which is in debate here, but rather it is whether or not guns should be allowed on a college campus. The Constitution of The United States of America already grants citizens the right to carry guns, and being in the south, I am by far no stranger to seeing a gun from time-to-time, but it is not appropriate for guns to be in a vulnerable area such as a college campus. There are already too many guns available to the public, and allowing them on an educational facility would greatly increase the likelihood of injury or death. Americans, as previously mentioned, have the right to bear arms, and this should be held sacred, and not infringed, taken away, or limited. However, stricter firearm control should be implemented for those who chose to carry a concealed weapon, and gun control should be done by having stricter certification processes before a firearm or gun permit is issued, intensive psychological evaluation for the person or persons applying for a gun permit or a gun,and greater educational requirements for gun owners and firearm safety.

Concealed carry and college campuses are two major topics currently in the media, yet these two topics are rarely used in unison, until now. The topic of whether or not concealed carry should be allowed on college campuses is a now mainstream debate with multiple views and numerous differentiating opinions. Many of the general public question if campus police is capable enough to protect a university’s enormous student body? Another commonly discussed issue is if concealed handguns actually do deter crime, and if they are capable of aiding in stopping a mass shooting spree? Or if guns on campus, carried by fellow classmates would make students as a whole feel more cautious or on the opposing hand make students feel more secure with guns carried on campus? If guns are allowed on campus, how will this affect a growing student’s ideology? These questions and many more are highly spoken of in our social media based generation, the answers to these questions help to improve our knowledge on this debate of concealed carry on college campuses, which will lead us to form our own individual opinions on this debate topic based on the facts and evidence presented.

Allowing concealed weapons on campus has been around for several years now. Sides such as, Students for Concealed Carry, who advocate for the right to carry on campuses and the other opposing such thing. Former, Students for Concealed Carry Director, David Burnett wrote an article about the reasons as to why students should be able to carry on campuses. Burnett was the director for the group in 2011, he wanted to get the word out about this cause during his time. Burnett wrote several articles about the reasons to why students should be allowed to carry on campus. Also the websites states, “state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else.”(1) Burnett states this into his article because under the new law, only those who have a concealed handgun license would be able to carry. Those with licenses can freely carry in movie theaters, grocery stores, banks, shopping malls and even churches so why should a

Since 1966, there have been 127 events in which four or more people were killed by a lone shooter. Since 2015, 52 of those 127 events have been school shootings; twenty-one being at colleges and universities, fifteen at high schools, three at middle schools, ten at elementary schools, two at preschools, and one on a school bus. On August 1, 2016, Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as Campus Carry, became a law allowing people with a concealed handgun license to carry concealed handguns in permitted areas on college campuses. Continuing to allow college students and faculty to carry concealed handguns on campuses is likely to make colleges, like Texas State University, overall better and safer.

In the past years, there have been many cases of school shootings injuring and killing many students. With these cases came the argument of having concealed weapons in schools in order for the teachers or students in college to protect and defend themselves and others when the time came. While some argue that it is the best way to keep everyone safe and how it is our right to bear arms, others will agree that it may just cause more shootings and more deaths. Concealed weapons should not be allowed in colleges, because it will make them available for students who should not have a weapon, having weapons does not mean people are willing and able to use it, and lastly because accidents can occur when least expected.

The ability to carry concealed weapons onto college campuses has always been an area of contention. In 1990, Congress passed the Clery Act which created gun-free zones in primary and secondary schools. Around that same time many states passed laws prohibiting weapons on college campuses as well. (Lyons, 2017) In recent years there has been a stronger focus on college related shootings and deaths which has re-ignited the conversation regards concealed weapons on college campuses.

The college campus in United State should prohibit carrying concealed guns for students’ safety. Because people rarely arm themselves for deter criminals, the responsibility should be left to official police rather than normal citizen. In addition, carrying concealed gun not only cause fear among non carrying population, but also cause higher risk of being killed or injury since criminals can legally holding concealed guns. So until the government published a more deliberate and suitable policy, the government should rethink about the consequence of permitting concealed guns, and have reaction towards the potential threat. For now, we’d better prohibit concealed guns on campus for students’ self security

What balance is there between the second amendment rights and public safety? Should there be gun restrictions of where they could be carried? Are college students safer if they are allowed to carry guns on campus? This issue of whether guns should be allowed on college campuses has been an ongoing national debated. In the essay “Do We Really Need More Guns on Campus” from the book Patterns, David Skorton and Glenn Altschuler discuss how the campus community is considerably safer if there's a ban on guns on campus.

Since the beginning of public education, there have been heinous crimes on the campuses of the schools. These crimes have taken place everywhere, from Columbine High School all the way to a classroom on the Virginia Tech campus. To be more specific the most devastating crime that can take place on a collegiate campus is a mass shooting. So, with more and more states beginning to allow those who possess a conceal carry permit, to carry at more places throughout the state. The question is asked, should college campuses allow students to carry a concealed handgun, while attending class. Some will say that there are already solutions in place; but, these solutions are not effective. The answer is yes, allowing students to carry is the only way to deter mass shootings on a college campus. Now some may ask, “What exactly is concealed carry?” Furthermore, more restaurants and places of work are beginning to allow employees and customers to enter with their concealed weapon. With the crime rate on the rise at most college campuses, campuses should consider allowing students to carry concealed weapons to deter crime.

The rules for CHL holder have to follow stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety surrounding concealed handguns licenses on college campuses says it “Authorizes a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on their person while they are on the campus of an institution of higher education in this state. However as stated by the Department of Public Safety the institution establish rules, regulation, or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities that are operated by the institution and located on the campus of the institution. The rules, regulations and provisions are made by the chief executive officer or president. Also under the Penal Code Section 30.06 they are authorized to post a sign stating where the holder may not carry a gun. (New laws for Concealed Handgun License (CHL) program 2015)

Carrying a concealed weapon is the practice of carrying a concealed firearm on one 's person in public (Concealed Weapons Law & Legal Definition). There are several reasons why people feel the need to carry concealed weapons. Some feel wary of the environment in which they live, thanks in part to high crime rates. Some like the assurance that a weapon provides them in the event that a police officer is not available. Others simply like to exercise the right that the Second Amendment has granted them. Concealed carry varies state to state. For example, in Florida one would need a certain permit to carry pepper spray over a two-ounce volume, as it is considered a weapon rather than a self defense mechanism (Woodard). In addition to this, knives, stun guns, batons, and various other non-lethal weapons are regulated differently state to state. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing specifically on the concealed handguns within the concealed carry weapon category. I’m also choosing to focus specifically on concealed rather than open carry, as most responsible gun owners understand the negative consequences of open carry, the main consequence being, setting yourself up as a target for a shooter (Students for Concealed Carry on Campus 171).

“Colleges and universities occupy a special place in American society. They are much more than a series of buildings and collection of individuals. Instead, they are dynamic living and learning environments where individuals with varying levels of maturity interact, often under stressful circumstances. While recognizing the right of responsible individuals to possess firearms under other circumstances, the unique characteristics of a university campus make the presence of firearms problematic. The shootings that have occurred in recent years at US colleges and universities have generated passionate debate about how best to prevent such violence and whether persons should be allowed to carry concealed guns on campuses. Experts believe there is no credible evidence that students or staff carrying guns would reduce crime. In fact, research has shown that the brains of most college students have not fully developed regarding impulse control and judgment” (Dickerson). Therefore, guns should not be allowed on college campuses because it would lead to an escalation in violent crime, distract from the learning environment, and lead to accidental discharge incidents.

Lastly, concealed weapons should not be allowed on campus as they would distract from a positive learning experience. College classrooms must be a place where faculty and students feel safe to express their opinions. While, the introduction of handguns could inhibit dialog among students by creating an atmosphere of fear of retaliation from someone that disagrees with a fellow student’s opinion. Teachers may feel trepidation or hesitant to criticize a difficult student’s work for fear of the possibility the student could be carrying a concealed weapon. In order to, promote a positive education students must feel comfortable in their environment to flourish. This would be diminished if college classrooms were filled with armed students. Furthermore,

College is seen as the beginning of young adult life, but campus crime can prevent the continuation of that life.Yet, campuses still prohibit students from carrying essential self defense weapons. This is most likely due to their ignorance of the benefits involved with allowing campus carry. Campus carry improves the overall environment of a college and promotes safety. Students should be allowed to carry guns on campus due to the current lack of protection offered through the university and an individual’s lawful rights, despite the belief that it would cause an escalation in violent crime.